Rockbund Athletic Club

About The Entry

This is an interior design project centered on "Be Proud of Yourself" for an urban gym. The project seeks to break free from the inherent molds of traditional fitness spaces, forging a comprehensive venue that balances training efficiency with psychological support. Drawing on the preservation of the original architectural structure, it establishes spatial order through a "materials-as-division" strategy: it moves away from traditional partition walls and instead leverages the textural differences between materials such as brick walls, red bricks, artistic paint, metal, and fair-faced concrete to create implicit boundaries. It creates clear yet unobtrusive guidance through contrasts in texture and tone, allowing foot traffic to flow naturally from high-intensity training zones to relaxation, recovery, and social areas. This design maintains spatial openness while enhancing clarity in behavioral organization.

In terms of layout and experience, this project frames the spatial circulation as a gradual journey of self-reflection, with inspirational texts subtly integrated into the structure and sightlines. This allows users to gain continuous emotional self-empowerment as they move through and train in the space. The project also intentionally limits full-wall mirrors, installing them only in areas necessary for posture correction. This reduces users' self-consciousness about being observed, enhancing comfort during long-term use and boosting user retention.

In terms of sustainability, the project sources over 70% of its building materials from recycled or local supply chains, reducing transportation and manufacturing costs. It retains the thermal mass of exposed brick walls and concrete to enhance passive cooling, enabling the building to cool more efficiently in summer. It also uses recycled rubber and FSC-certified wood for the flooring, creating a long-lasting foundation that features both durability and recyclability.